HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-21-002 - Appointments to the Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (2021)REPORT TO:Finance and Corporate Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING:January 11, 2021
SUBMITTED BY:Mark Hildebrand, Director Neighbourhood Programs&Services,
519-741-2200, ext.7687
PREPARED BY:Lolita Paroski, Inclusion Coordinator, 519-741-2200, ext.7226
WARD (S) INVOLVED:All
DATE OF REPORT:December 10, 2020
REPORT NO.:CSD-20-002
SUBJECT:APPOINTMENTS TO THE GRAND RIVERACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY
COMMITTEE(2021)
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RECOMMENDATION:
That the following applicants be appointed to the Grand River Accessibility Advisory
Committee (GRAAC) for a 4-year term ending December 31, 2024, pending ratification by
the partnering municipalities of the City of Waterloo, Region of Waterloo, Township of
North Dumfries, Township of Wellesley, Township of Wilmot and Township of Woolwich.
Teresa McQuillinWaterlooNew
Brad SaylesTownship of North DumfriesNew
Jolene MacDonaldTownship of WellesleyReappointment
Agency RepresentationCanadian Hearing ServicesReappointment
BACKGROUND:
Under the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), all
municipalities with a population of 10,000 or greater are required to establish an Accessibility
Advisory Committee to advise Council on the prevention, identification and removal of barriers
for persons with disabilities. The Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) is a
joint committee of the Cities of Kitchener and Waterloo, the Region of Waterloo and the
Townships of North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich and is appointed the task of
advising the participating municipalities on accessibility planning.
REPORT:
The GRAAC Terms of Reference specify that the Committee will consist of 11-15 members of
which a majority must be persons with a disability. Recruitment for GRAAC is conducted in the
fall with members beginning their 4-year term in January.
***This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994for assistance.
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GRAAC membership currently consists of 15 members with 4 members completing their terms,
leaving a membership of 11. A selection committee of staff representing the participating
municipalities reviewed the applications. Recommendations for membership are based on
consideration of the Terms of Reference as well as equitable representation from various
disability groups.
Pending ratification by each of the participating municipalities, staff is recommending that the
persons noted above be appointed by the City of Kitchener. The proposed 2021 committee will
have a total of 15 members.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
Caring Community
This committee provides persons with disabilities the opportunity to discuss, define and
address their shared concerns regardingthe identification, removal and prevention of
barriers in City facilities, programs and services.
Consulting with persons with disabilities in an advisory role increases the capacity of the
City to ensure a greater degree of equity and inclusion in the community.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
N/A
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
The community was informed of the application process for the Grand River Accessibility
social media feeds.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Michael May, Deputy CAO
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